Monday, June 04, 2012

Antisemitic Attacks Against Jews In France Increase After Toulouse

About France, on one hand we see the spread of the wildest anti-Semitism there. In France today, about 10 percent of the population are Muslims, and they of course decide the anti-Semitism that always was in Europe and is still now there, that gets different type of anti-Semitism based on anti-Israeli feelings and the propoganda. I must say that the French government are taking steps against that, but altogether if I'll have to advocate to our brothers in France, I'll tell them one thing - move to Israel, early as possible, and that what I'm saying to Jews all around the world -- I think it's a must and they have to move immediately.Ariel Sharon, July 18, 2004, Reuters

And despite France's disdain for his warning to the French Jews, Ariel Sharon's words continue to be validated by the rabid Antisemtism in France.

If the growing disinterest in the murder of 4 French Jews in Toulouse back in March was not enough of a reminder of the dangerous situation of Jews in France, the vicious attack on 3 Jews in France over the weekend is a reminder:

Three Jews wearing yarmulkes were assaulted by 10 people in southeast France in what the French Interior Ministry is calling an anti-Semitic attack.

The attack, which occurred on Saturday and was announced by the Interior Ministry on Sunday, took place in Villeurbanne, near Lyon.

The attackers, who used a hammer and an iron bar, injured two of the Jewish men, who were sent to the hospital. The attackers are being described as “of North-African origin,” according to reports.

Joël Mergui, president of the Central Consistory, an umbrella organization working to coordinate local Jewish communities, said the country’s Jews were under constant attack. “Not a week passes without anti-Semitic assaults in France. I refuse to believe Jews will be forced to choose between security and their Jewish identity.”

The chief rabbi of the Grand Synagogue in Lyon, Richard Wertenschlag, called the atmosphere “unbearable.”

“These incidents are becoming more and more frequent, so much so, alas, as to make one take them for granted,” he said.

The deplorable situation in France is so bad, that the terrorist attack in Toulouse did not lead to a drop in the number of Antisemitic attacks against Jews--instead, those attacks against Jews have increased.

But CRIF Vice President
Ariel Goldman the Vice President of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France(CRIF) told Le Figaro that the number of incidents has increased:

In the month following the Merah terror attack we counted 140 such acts,” said Goldman. “This amounts to a third of the violent incidents we had in 2011.

France has a severe Antisemitic problem. Part of the problem can of course be attributed to the Muslim population in France. But the fact that Antisemitism attacks continue unchallenged reveal a deeper problem with France itself.

Sharon was right.

France's Jews need to "move to Israel, early as possible...I think it's a must and they have to move immediately."

About Me

When I am not blogging at Daled Amos, I am sharing articles and the great posts of others on my account on Google Plus.

I write about the Middle East in general and about Israel in particular -- especially about issues affecting Israel in the Middle East and how Israel is impacted by policy in the current Obama administration.